Product from bone.



l fe. 781,880.

UWTED STATES Patented February '7, 1905.

PATENT QFFTCE,

JOSEPH ROSS IIUNTER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO \YILLIAHHINCKLE SMITH, OI PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYL ANIA.

PRODUCT FROM BONE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 781,880, dated February'7, 1905.

' Application tiled June 29, 1904. Serial No, 214,618.

Be it known that I, J osnrn Ross HUNTER, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania,have invented a novel Construction of Products from Bone, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention consists of a new product from l bone.

In carrying out my invention I treat bone of any kind in any suitablemanner to remove from it fatty matter and then remove the mineral salts,particularly lime, therefrom,

or I may omit the removal of the fatty matter pm .w' and carry out theinvention in the manner hereinafter described, removing the fatty matteras a part of the same operation that is required to remove the mineralsalts. I preferably wash the bone thoroughly to remove the tlesh orforeign matter therefrom, cut it up to make it more convenient for thehandling, and to render all parts of the hone more easily accessible tothe treating fluid, and thus place it in vessels containing a solutionof hydrochloric acid (HUI) and water. The per centage ofhydrochloricacid used is preferably relatively small, being about twentyper cent, but varies slightly, according to the character of the bonwhether fresh or dead, and the temperature at which the process is to becarried out. The extent of action of hydrochloric acid upon the mineralsalts relatively to the action upon the fiber of the bone which I wishto retain depends upon the tempera ture, and I have found that the mostsuitable temperature is in the vicinity of blood-heat. The fiberremaining from the hydrochloricacid treatment, ordinarily termedossein," is then washed thoroughly and the hydrochloric acid removed bychurning or otherwise working in a solution of sal-soda. If the bonefiber has at this time an objectionable color, itmay be bleached bychlorid of lime without in- E terfering with the result which I wish toobtain. The bone fiber is preferably kept wet until the process iscomplete, but may be moistened if it dries too much. From thesoda-washing or from the bleaching process the bone is put into abeating-engine and thoroughly beaten. This breaks the fiber up somewhat;but I preferably divide it, and I complete the division in a refining orJordan l engine to the fineness required for the purpose to which it isto be applied. The resultant fibers are pliable and soft and have a lragged body caused by the projection of small l spurs, filaments,splints, or particles therefrom much as is the case with wool, and the isame result is obtained from this fiber in my product as in wool namely,that it may be felted or woven to advantage, and under strong pressureit may be formed into masses or sheets without the use of adhesive. Thecoarse products are used for the bulky articles and for those requiringcomparatively little capability or necessity of flexure and arepreferably united without an adhesive; but for the liner and moredelicate fabrics and products a sizing is preferably used.

My material is a non-conductor of heat and of electricity: and even inthe divided form will not take fire nor readily support combustion. Inthe compressed form it is substantially fireproof, and it is at alltimes impervious to moisture.

Where reference is made herein to the removal of fluid fatty matter andlime or mineral matter, and particularly the last two named, or tomaterial as free from these substances, the substantial removal of andsubstantial freedom from these substances will be understood to beintended, as an absolute removal of them, and particularly of themineral matter is most ditlicult without the destruction of the fibrousresiduum, and for most, if not all, purposes the entire removal of thesesubstances is unnecessary. \Vhere ref- .erence is made herein to lime ordelimed bone, it will be understood that the lime or deliming refers tosuch mineral matter as contains calcium, which, as is well known, existsin bone largely in the form of a phosphate.

It will be evident that various changes may l be made by those skilledin the art which may 4:. As a new product of manufacture, ossein fibershaving spurs or filaments projecting 5 therefrom.

5. Asa new product of manufacture fibers from bone separated alonggeneral lines of natural cleavage.

6. As anew product of manufacture, shrec 20 ded cartilaginous residuumfrom bone.

JOSEPH ROSS HUNTER.

Vitnesses:

JOHN A. VVIEDERSHEIM, VVM. S. JAoKsoN.

